EXPRESSIVE THERAPIES CONTINUUM-INFORMED EVALUATION OF THREE RESOURCE-ORIENTED RECEPTIVE AND ACTIVE MUSIC THERAPY TECHNIQUES IN CANCER PATIENTS IN PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMME

Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC), a model posed by Lusebrink and widely used in arts therapies, stipulates that human being is perceiving the world and processing the information in three modes – motion (kinesthetic-sensory perception), emotion (perceptual-emotional perception) and thought (cognitive-symbolic perception), and that optimally functioning person can freely function in all the modes, can slide between the poles of each of the mode and can integrate the elements from various modes and poles. And vice versa - difficulty or inability to function or being stuck in certain modes, can indicate to malfunction and even psychopathology. If that is the case - purposeful integration of various functions by offering expressive activity promoting utilisation of various functions of the ETC, can promote the optimal functioning. In order to find out the capacity of the three resource-based music therapy activities – 1) receptive music therapy activity, 2) semi-structured musical improvisation, 3) song-writing activity - to stimulate the utilisation of specific levels and polarities of the ETC, participants (n=24 cancer patients participating in the psychosocial rehabilitation programme) were asked to assess the elements of the ETC they applied while executing each of the activities. Results of the study show that during the receptive music therapy activity participants mostly used the affective, symbolic and sensory function, during the song-writing activity the mostly used all ETC functions except for sensory, but musical improvisation provoked application of all the ETC functions, and therefore turned out as ultimate activity, capable of integrating all the modes of perception and information processing.

MUSIC THERAPY FOR STROKE PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WITH META-ANALYSIS

There are numerous trials, showing positive results for using the music therapy for stroke patient rehabilitation. Therefore, summarizing the data from these trials is an actual topic. The objective, of this research, was to summarize the data from trials about the use of music therapy methods and techniques, especially the rhythmic auditory stimulation, for improving of the motor functions for stroke patients, by creating a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, with meta-analysis. The trials where searched in MEDLINE, Cochrane Trial Register and EBSO databases. The trial quality was evaluated by the PEDro scale. 20 randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review. The meta-analysis for 5 gait outcomes, including gait speed, steps per minute, step length, gait symmetry, Time up and go test, and 7 arm function outcomes, including Fugl-Meyer test, ARAT test, Box and blocks test, Wolf motor function test, Nine hole peg test, shoulder flexion, elbow extension, was conducted. According to the results of the meta-analysis, gait exercises, combined with rhythmic auditory stimulation, provide statistically significant improvement, compared with gait exercises alone. Concerning the use of rhythmic auditory stimulation and other music therapy interventions for arm function rehabilitation, a statistically significant improvement was not detected.

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERVENTION TO PROMOTE SELF-CARE: NEEDS ASSESSMENT

The global societal challenges reveal decreased ability of people to maintain health and well-being when faced with prolonged stress conditions. Increases in anxiety, depression, and burnout are reported worldwide. The recent research indicates self-care as a useful resource to promote health and well-being and strengthen psychological resilience. The importance and attainability of self-care strategies are the characteristics that may indicate the necessity for self-care behaviour changes by identifying an internal conflict between the two. However, little is known about the determinants of self-care practicing according one’s needs. The study aimed to explore the experts’ perspectives on self-care needs among clinically healthy adults. The risks caused by inadequate self-care practices and the determinants of self-care behaviour change were identified. The interviews with 12 experts in arts therapies and/or health psychology were conducted. The qualitative content analysis was used to process the data. Psychological, health-related, and social risks were the categories of risks identified. The determinants of self-care behaviour change were categorized as knowledge, self-efficacy, attitude, perceived cues to action, planning, awareness, social support, and motivation. The identified items will contribute to evidence-based development of the intervention to promote self-care.

Music therapy for emotion regulation skills and better psychological well-being for cancer patients: Making of a therapeutic programme

Objective of this research is to explore the subjective experience and perceived benefits of 60 cancer patients participating in the music therapy based and Expressive Therapies Continuum and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy informed psychosocial support programme. The data was obtained by means of questionnaire and focus group discussions. All participants (n = 60) performed written evaluation of the programme: a) of their overall experience, b) its specific benefits for addressing pain, anxiety as well as social support, emotion regulation and overall quality of life issues, c) its most/least enjoyable/helpful elements. Participants (n = 20) of the four focus group discussions, on their turn, explored the specific elements (contents, organisation, instructions, timetable) of the programme to provide the grounds for future amendments. Results reveal that 70% of participants rated their overall experience as “very valuable” or “valuable”, 24% indicated as “neutral”, whereas 6% admitted that their participation has not led to “substantial gains”. The top five benefits included: improved mood, reduced stress, received support, improved communication, coping with negative emotions linked with disease or treatment. Among the most enjoyable and helpful elements, participants emphasized the ones that were linked with the acquired ability to face and survive difficult emotions (n = 43), discovering inner strength (n = 58), gaining more confidence by acquiring new skills or experience (n = 29), gaining connectedness with group and music (n = 32), musically beautiful moments and transcendence (n = 58) as well as normalization of their experience (n = 50). Focus group discussion provided with valuable recommendations regarding the inclusion of psycho-education elements, size of the group, format of task instructions, pace of the work and necessity for balance between the safety and novelty. It can be concluded that participation in the programme positively affected psychological and social well-being of the cancer patients. Results of this research provide valuable input for the further development of the programme – both organisation and content-wise

Metodiskie norādījumi maģistra darbu izstrādei RSU psiholoģijas, mākslu terapijas un supervīzjas studiju programmās

Metodiskie norādījumi maģistra darba izstrādei ir paredzēti Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes psiholoģijas, mākslu terapijas un supervīzijas studiju programmu studentiem, taču tos var izmantot arī citu RSU studiju programmu studenti, iepriekš iepazīstoties ar programmas ietvaros noteiktajām prasībām (piemēram, ar literatūras saraksta noformēšanas prasībām). Metodiskie norādījumi izstrādāti saskaņoti ar RSU Nolikumu par kvalifikācijas darba, studējošā pētnieciskā darba, bakalaura darba un maģistra darba izstrādāšanu un aizstāvēšanu

Mākslas terapijas izglītības desmit gadi Rīgas Stradiņa universitātē: No ieceres līdz profesijai

Grāmatā apkopotas 37 profesijas izveidē un izaugsmē iesaistītu ģeogrāfiski tuvu un tālu kolēģu intervijas. Šīs intervijas tika ievāktas, gatavojoties mākslu terapijas izglītības desmitgadei Rīgas Stradiņa universitātē, lai jubilejas reizē reflektētu par mākslu terapijas tapšanu – no dažādiem skatupunktiem, lai uzrunātu un atcerētos cilvēkus, kas ir devuši būtisku ieguldījumu profesijas attīstībā, tā veidojot daudzbalsīgu stāstījumu, fiksējot, kā notika Latvijas mākslu terapijas modeļa tapšana un attīstība

Mākslu terapija dažādām klientu / pacientu grupām

Šis rakstu krājums ir izveidots un publicēts Erasmus Mūžizglītības intensīvās programmas projektā “Mākslu terapija dažādām klientu / pacientu grupām” (2014) Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Rehabilitācijas fakultātē, profesionālā maģistra studiju programmā “Mākslas terapija” sadarbībā ar projekta partneriem. Raksti ir balstīti uz teorētisko prezentāciju un autoru semināru saturu intensīvās programmas laikā. Rakstu krājumā aprakstīts teorētiskais un praktiskais darbs ar veselības aprūpes disciplīnu - mākslas terapijas specializācijām - mākslas terapijas, deju kustību terapijas, mūzikas terapijas iespējas ar dažādām klientu / pacientu grupām veselības aprūpē, sociālajā aprūpē un izglītības vidē. Rakstu krājumā ir dažādi mākslas terapeiti no Igaunijas, Latvijas, Lietuvas, Vācijas un Lielbritānijas, kā arī viņu praktiskās pieredzes kopsavilkums. Gadījumu izpēte ir neseno pētījumu rezultāti mākslas terapijas jomā. Raksti akcentē un raksturo mākslas terapijas specializācijas specifiku un piedāvā iespējas darbā ar dažādām klientu / pacientu grupām. Kolekcijā tiek piedāvāti daudzdimensionāli skati uz mākslas terapijas praktisko daļu. Tas arī demonstrē dažādus terapeitiskos ietvarus, medicīnisko, psiholoģisko teoriju integrāciju, kas tiek izmantota mākslas terapijas pielietojamības pamatā, piedāvā dažus uz mākslu balstīta novērtējuma aspektus un dalās noderīgā pieredzē. Autori piedāvā mūsdienu pieejas mākslas terapijas darbos. Projekta galvenie mērķi bija nodrošināt pieredzes apmaiņu, izmantojot aktivitātes starp projekta partneriem; iegūt un attīstīt jaunas zināšanas un prasmes; izveidot norādes materiālus mākslas terapijas darbiem dažādām klientu / pacientu grupām; un veicināt turpmāku mākslas terapijas attīstību projektā iesaistītajās valstīs